Which nursing action is most effective in controlling the spread of infection for an infant with diarrhea?
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What is diarrhoea?Diarrhoea is a symptom where someone’s bowel movements are more frequent or looser and they pass 3 or more loose or liquid stools (poos) per day. If the stools are soft, formed and solid, then it is not diarrhoea. Breastfed babies may pass soft, loose stools in a mustard yellow colour, but this is not diarrhoea either. See this article for what’s normal for baby poo. Diarrhoea in children is often due to ‘gastro’ — viral gastroenteritis — which is infectious and easily spread from person to person. What symptoms relate to diarrhoea in children?Children with diarrhoea may also have other symptoms, including:
Depending on the cause of the diarrhoea, the symptoms and their pattern may vary. CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the diarrhoea and vomiting Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help. Signs of dehydration in babies, infants and childrenDehydration can be fatal, and babies and children are particularly vulnerable. It’s therefore important to recognise the signs of dehydration. Babies and young children are much more likely than adults to become dehydrated when they have diarrhoea. They can become very sick very quickly and may need to go to hospital. Signs that a child is dehydrated include:
Severe dehydration is a medical emergency and can be fatal — get medical help for your child immediately. Symptoms include:
When should my child see a doctor?Got to a doctor or your local hospital emergency room straightaway if a child with diarrhoea:
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services. ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist. What causes diarrhoea in children?There are many causes of diarrhoea in children — diarrhoea is a symptom, not a condition in itself. Conditions that can cause diarrohea in children include: Viral gastroenteritisGastroenteritis is an infection of the bowel. Viruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in children. Rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus and astrovirus can all cause viral gastroenteritis. The viruses are very infectious and are passed easily from person to person. Outbreaks happen more often in autumn and winter. Viral gastroenteritis normally starts with vomiting, which can last 1 or 2 days. There may be low-grade fever. The diarrhoea, which is often watery, usually takes longer to clear up and may go on for up to a week to 10 days. Bacterial gastroenteritisGastroenteritis can also be caused by bacteria, sometimes linked to food poisoning. Salmonella, E. coli, shigella and campylobacter are all bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis. Bacterial gastroenteritis may cause blood or mucus in the stool and high fever. It comes on suddenly. ParasitesParasites may also cause gastroenteritis. The parasites that cause giardia and cryptosporidiosis are waterborne parasites and live in rivers, lagoons and streams throughout Australia. They may also infect swimming pools, water parks and tank water. Giardia is common in Indigenous communities. It can cause ongoing or severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, tiredness and weight loss. Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include watery diarrhoea and stomach cramps, along with nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. AntibioticsA course of antibiotics can sometimes wipe out 'good' bacteria as well as 'bad'. This leaves an imbalance of bacteria in the bowel, which can cause diarrhoea, and is known as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. See your doctor if you think antibiotics have caused your child’s diarrhoea. Clostridium difficileClostridium difficile (also known as C. diff) is a bacterium that lives in the bowel of many children and some adults. If C. diff starts to overgrow after a course of antibiotics, it can cause serious gastrointestinal symptoms. These include watery diarrhoea, cramping abdominal pain and fever. The symptoms can be severe, including blood in the stool. You should take your child straight to the doctor or hospital emergency room if they have blood in their poo. Long-term causes of diarrhoeaSeveral long-term (chronic) health conditions can cause diarrhoea in children including: Chronic constipationA hard stool can become impacted and stuck in the lower bowel due to constipation. This may lead to soft stools leaking around the partial blockage, sometimes with no warning, and soiling the underwear. These episodes of ‘diarrhoea’ are known as encopresis or faecal incontinence. Lactose intoleranceLactose intolerance, when the body can’t digest the lactose found in milk, is uncommon in babies and children. Lactose is the sugar found in the milk produced by all mammals, including humans. When lactose intolerance does occur, it causes diarrhoea and stomach pain. Temporary lactose intolerance sometimes occurs after gastroenteritis. If you think your baby or child is lactose intolerant, see your doctor. Don’t try and modify their diet yourself. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are 2 conditions collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease. The symptoms, including diarrhoea, can flare up and then die down (remit). A child with IBD may lose weight for no obvious reason. Coeliac diseaseCoeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where someone is abnormally sensitive to the dietary protein gluten. It can cause diarrhoea, bloating, abdominal pain, and weight loss or slow growth in children. MalabsorptionMalabsorption syndrome refers to several disorders that affect someone’s ability to absorb nutrients from their food. A child with malabsorption may have ongoing diarrhoea and difficulty gaining weight. If your child has diarrhoea and needs to see a doctor for any reason, they will check whether the child is dehydrated. The doctor will also ask you if they have recently been on antibiotics or had contact with anyone who had similar symptoms. Doctors don’t usually do tests if they suspect there is a short-term infectious cause of the diarrhoea, so you may never know for certain what the cause was. How is diarrhoea in babies and children treated?The treatment of diarrhoea in babies and children will depend on the underlying cause. Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea: The doctor may advise you to stop or change the antibiotic. Coeliac disease or lactose intolerance: These conditions can be treated with dietary adjustments. Constipation: If ongoing constipation is causing faecal incontinence in your child, this will need to be managed by a doctor or a paediatrician. Cryptosporidiosis: There is usually no specific treatment for this condition and it generally clears up by itself. Dehydration: Your child may need to go to hospital for rehydration via a nasogastric tube, which goes down their nose into their stomach, or intravenously via a drip. Gastroenteritis: Treatment will focus on keeping your child hydrated and replacing any lost minerals and salts. You can do this with an oral rehydration solution, which you can buy from the pharmacy. Gastroenteritis will usually clear up without specific treatment. Giardia: This can be treated with specific antibiotics. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Your child will need to see a specialist and will need medicines and specialised formula. Malabsorption: Treatment will depend on the underlying cause and may involve replacing missing nutrients. Anti-diarrhoeal medicines are not suitable for use in children. How should I care for a child with diarrhoea at home?Most cases of diarrhoea in children are due to viral gastroenteritis, and can be treated with home care, as long as the child does not have dehydration. If you are caring for a child at home because they have diarrhoea due to gastroenteritis:
Should I keep my child home from school?Here’s a list of common childhood illnesses, including diarrhoea and gastroenteritis, and their recommended exclusion periods. What complications can occur in children with diarrhoea?
Can you prevent diarrhoea in children?Gastroenteritis is the most common cause of diarrhoea in children. It is highly infectious and easily spread between people, especially between children. You can help minimise the spread of gastroenteritis by:
Resources and supportIf you need advice on what to do for your child, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours, 7 days a week. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby has a useful list of helpline numbers that you can call for information and advice? For more information and support, try these resources:
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Which nursing action is effective in controlling the spread of infection for an infant with diarrhea?Hand washing is an essential and very effective way to prevent the spread of infection.
Which nursing action is most effective in controlling the spread of infection?Proper hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. If you are a patient, don't be afraid to remind friends, family and health care providers to wash their hands before getting close to you.
What type of isolation is used for diarrhea?Contact Isolation should be ordered/initiated when a patient has had ≥ 3 loose stools in ≤ 24 hours and there is concern for infectious diarrhea. An order can be placed by the nurse, provider, or Infection Control Practitioner.
Which should the nurse include when teaching a client with Clostridium difficile about decreasing the risk of transmission to family members?Contact Precautions. Use gloves and gown when entering patients' rooms and during patient care. Remove PPE and perform hand hygiene when exiting the room.. Change gloves and gowns and perform hand hygiene when moving from one patient to another when patients are cohorted, and before leaving patient room.. |
